-XXXX-

Storm and Wolverine were blasted through the air by the fireball. Iceman struck Pyro with a beam of ice, as Juggernaut put his helmet on and starting charging. Colossus assumed his metallic form and clashed with Juggernaut, getting smashed through a market stall. Getting to his feet uninjured, Colossus stepped out of the wreckage, as Juggernaut slammed into him, heading deeper into the markets. Toad leapt forth with surprising speed and agility, catching Rogue and Shadowcat off guard as he took them down. X23 extracted her claws, as Deathstrike brought forth her long claws

"Holy shit," X23 said

She was caught off guard when Deathstrike spun around like a tornado in the air, slashing her across the face several times, then kicking her through a stone seat. Wolverine and Storm got to their feet, as Sabretooth charged and struck them both. Storm was thrown through the air, as Wolverine unsheathed his claws and stabbed. Sabretooth caught his arm and threw him over his shoulder. Juggernaut came crashing out of a third storey building, as Colossus jumped down after him

"You smell like Wolverine," Deathstrike said, "Are you his child?"

"Depends on how you look at it," X23 replied, her injuries healing

She slashed, but Deathstrike blocked and stabbed her in the stomach, then slashed her across the face twice, before kicking her down. Flicking out a foot claw, X23 stabbed into Deathstrike's stomach, as the mutant grabbed her leg and tossed her through the air. Shadowcat phased through Toad when he lunged at her, but he used his tongue to pull himself onto a parking meter, then launch back at Shadowcat, taking her down before she had time to turn around. Rogue swung her fist, but Toad caught her fist, poked his tongue at her and kicked her in the stomach, then her face, knocking her down, while blowing a raspberry at her

Storm struck Sabretooth with a lightning bolt, blasting him across the street, as she was struck by a jet of fire from Pyro. Iceman punched Pyro with a frozen fist, followed by a knee to the jaw. Pyro chuckled and blasted Iceman with a fireball. Wolverine went to strike Sabretooth, but felt his body freeze up. He couldn't move a muscle, as Sabretooth looked for the source and found Magneto floating down through the air. He turned Wolverine on the spot and brought him close

"Thought you had me, didn't you?"

Magneto threw Wolverine through a shop, before catching Colossus with his powers and launching him through the air. Pietro appeared, taking down Iceman, X23, Rogue and Shadowcat before they had time to blink, while his twin sister, Wanda, used her magic to trap Storm inside an energy bubble

"So, how are we all?" Magneto asked, "Enjoying ourselves?"

Wolverine stepped out of the markets, growling as he headed towards Magneto

"Why do you even bother?" he asked, lifting Wolverine up with his powers

"So, the cure didn't take?" Wolverine asked

"Silly humans. Thinking they can cure us. We are the cure to the human problem"

"Humans aren't a problem, not anymore," Storm asked

"That's what you think, my dear. But give it time. Soon, the humans will turn on us once again and we'll be back to square one"

"Doesn't help that your hothead boy over there makes things worse," said Wolverine

"I was just looking for a bit of fun," Pyro said with a grin

"Can we kill them?" Sabretooth asked

At that moment, the X-Jet arrived, hovering above the buildings. Storm looked up and saw that Jean and Hank were piloting the plane. Magneto released his hold over Wolverine, as Wanda took the hint and dropped Storm

"I'll let you go this once. Next time, don't expect me to be so merciful"

"Yeah, sure, whatever bub," Wolverine said, "Come on, kids"

The hatch opened up, as Iceman created a stairway of ice, breaking it once everyone was onboard and heading back to the Institute

"So, we got the plane. That should make things a little easier," Wolverine said

-XXXX-

"Magneto has his powers back?" Hank asked

"Tossed me and Colossus round like we were ragdolls," Logan said

"Magneto's back on the scene. This is not going to be good," Storm said, "He will continue his war against humanity, even though there is no need for it"

"Magneto has been bitter against humans for a very long time," Hank said, "It's highly unlikely he'll drop that anytime soon. The way he sees it is that mutants are superior and should rule the planet, wiping humanity from it"

"I can only imagine what the humans are gonna do," Logan said

"Um, guys, we have a visitor," Emma said, entering the office

She stepped aside as a young man with shaggy brown hair and red eyes entered

"And who are you?" Hank asked

"The name's Remy LeBeau, but you can call me Gambit"

"What can we do for you?" asked Storm

"I'm here to help you fight against the Brotherhood," Gambit replied

-XXXX-

"Hey"

Rogue looked up at Bobby and then looked back at her hands, as he joined her

"How you doing?"

"Fine"

"You're not fine. I can tell"

"I'm just worried that's all"

"About the cure? About the no-so-permanent cure"

"I can't go back to that, Bobby. I don't want to"

"We'll have to wait and see about that. Don't worry, I'll ask Hank to see if he can get a more permanent version of the cure if you like"

"Thanks. I'd like that"

"That's what I'm here for," Bobby said, wrapping an arm around her

-XXXX-

"So, you're back," Pyro said, "Does that mean you're the leader again?"

"Well, while you did do a fine job," Magneto said, "Yes I am"

"Who are these two?" Sabretooth asked

"These are some accomplices of mine that I came across previously. Everyone, meet Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch"

"It's a pleasure, especially you, young lass," Juggernaut said with a grin at Wanda

"So, what do we do now?" Pyro asked, "I'm going for kill all humans"

"They force a cure upon us and then force us to live with them," Magneto said, "Homo sapiens, trying by any means to control the world and us"

"Yep, he's going with kill all humans," Juggernaut said, "Just tell us how"

"Of course, it's not gonna be easy with the X-Men," Pyro said

"Then we'll just have to find some way to get rid of them," Magneto said

"Don't worry, we'll do it," Pyro said, "It's as good as done"

"We need more mutants for this. And I know that there are thousands of mutants all wanting to strike back against their oppressors. So, shall we get started?"

-XXXX-

"Magneto's going to try and start another war, I can see it," Storm said

"He's seriously messed up," Logan said, "But the one question that is running through my mind is how those mutants are alive. Especially Deathstrike. If I remember correctly, I filled her body up adamantinum. No way she could survive that"

"Maybe it wasn't really her," Storm said, "You know, like Jean"

"No, I doubt that. It's completely confusing me"

"We need to focus on finding and stopping Magneto," Hank said

Suddenly, Storm and Logan straightened up and started leaving the office

"What's going on?" Hank asked

"We're going to the front door," Storm replied, "I don't know why, but I feel like I must"

They reached the front door and opened it, shock and surprise crossing their faces when they saw Professor Xavier standing before them

"Hello there," Xavier said

-XXXX-